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Inquiry Questions:
Inquiry Questions:
Who are the local Aboriginal Peoples?
Where are our local Aboriginal sites?
Our local Aboriginal Peoples
Our local Aboriginal Peoples
The language
The question, "What is the name of the language of the local Aboriginal Peoples?" is not easy to answer. At the time of colonisation/invasion, language names were not often used by Aboriginal Peoples to identify themselves and geographical boundaries did not and do not follow the suburban boundaries we see today. Due to the devastating impacts of dispossession, depopulation, disease and social disruption since 1788, coupled with the fragmented nature of western data for the region, the answer becomes difficult. Jakelin Troy's (2019)* research could not find a definitive answer, so she referred to the local language as The Sydney Language.
The people
In 1892, John Fraser used the term Kuringgai to describe Aboriginal Peoples from the Macleay River to south of Sydney. Later, Norman Tindale (1974) divided this area up into groups which were either named by 19th century anthropologists (eg. Dharug) or modified from their original meaning (eg. Eora).
Today, local descendants of this area have chosen to continue to refer to themselves as GuriNgai People (note: not to be confused with the Gringai/Guringai People of the Hunter region). Elders from our area have advised that the word GuriNgai is derived from local language words meaning "man" (guri/koori) and "woman" (ngai/nuguy) so it is their way of referring to themselves as people; and therefore, to help further clarify and to signify the importance of these two words individually they have decided to capitalise the "N" within the word.
So to answer the original question, "what is the name of the language of the local Aboriginal Peoples?" - currently there isn't an answer. It could be referred to as the local Aboriginal language, the Sydney language or the language of the GuriNgai Peoples.
The Acknowledgement
At Gibberagong EEC, we acknowledge the GuriNgai Peoples of Garigal land on the Wanangini nation.
Which land? Which map?
Which land? Which map?
Map refers to 'Sydney' and 'Central Coast'
(courtesy of Dr Val Attenbrow 2010**)
(courtesy of Dr Val Attenbrow 2010**)
Map refers to 'Garigal'
Principles of self-determination gives local families the right to refer to themselves as they choose.
Principles of self-determination gives local families the right to refer to themselves as they choose.
Local community have chosen to refer to themselves as Guringai Peoples and to local Country as Garigal.
Local community have chosen to refer to themselves as Guringai Peoples and to local Country as Garigal.
Where are our local Aboriginal sites?
Where are our local Aboriginal sites?
The Sydney basin has a rich abundance of Aboriginal cultural sites. Thousands of sites stretch across Sydney including rock art, grinding grooves, middens, rock engravings, scar trees and shelters to name a few. The three most easily identified types of Aboriginal sites in our local area are rock engravings, grinding grooves and middens. The Aboriginal Heritage Office image below shows where these types of sites are most likely to be found.
Local Country
Local Country
Types of sites commonly found in our local area:
Types of sites commonly found in our local area:
Rock engravings
Rock art (stencil art)
Midden
Grinding grooves
Local Acknowledgement of Country
Local Acknowledgement of Country
Watch Lea sharing a special Acknowledgment of Country in local language.
Explore three different Aboriginal sites found at Bobbin Head on our 360° tour!
Explore three different Aboriginal sites found at Bobbin Head on our 360° tour!
* Troy, Jakelin. (2019). The Sydney language. Canberra, ACT: Aboriginal Studies Press** Attenbrow, Valerie. (2010). Sydney's Aboriginal past: investigating the archaeological and historical records. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press
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